DAT Examine Guide

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DAT Guide 2011 American Dental Association

All rights reserved.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEWAbout this Guide and DAT Policies---------------------------------------------------------- 1About the DAT ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1Information for Dental School Applicants -------------------------------------------------- 1

ETHICAL CONDUCTEthical Conduct in Applying to Dental Education Programs -------------------------- 1

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTSRequirements for Participation --------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Additional Eligibility Requirement------------------------------------------------------------ 3Retesting ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3Partial Testing------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

TESTING ACCOMMODATIONSRequest for Testing Accommodations and Appropriate Documentation----------- 4

Unacceptable Forms of Documentation for Requests---------------------------------- 5

TESTING APPLICATION AND APPOINTMENT INFORMATIONTest Centers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6Testing Schedule-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6Obtain a DENTPIN and Apply to Test-------- -----------------------------------------------6Privacy and Security----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7Schedule a Testing Appointment------------------------------------------------------------- 8Confirm a Testing Appointment--------------------------------------------------------------- 8Cancel or Reschedule a Testing Appointment-------------------------------------------- 8Taking the Test at a Prometric Test Center------------------------------------------------ 9Testing Fees-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9

Partial Fee Waiver------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10

TESTING PROCEDURES AND REGULATIONSRules of Conduct-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10Test Center Procedures ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 11Test Regulations and Prohibited Conduct------------------------------------------------- 13

TESTING IRREGULARITIES AND MISCONDUCTIrregularities and Appeals----------------------------------------------------------------------15

Arbitration Requirement----------------------------------------------------------------------- 16

TEST CONTENT

Scope of the Test ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 17Test Preparation Materials -------------------------------------------------------------------- 17Unreleased Test Materials-------------------------------------------------------------------- 18

SCORE INFORMATIONScoring of Test----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18Test Validity and Score Reliability----------------------------------------------------------- 19Score Reports------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 19


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Score Audits-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21

ADDITIONAL RESOURCESDental School Admission: ASDA Resources -------------------------------------------- 22

Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (ADEA AADSAS) ---- 22How to Apply to ADEA AADSAS ------------------------------------------------------------ 22

ADEA AADSAS Processing Fee ------------------------------------------------------------ 23ADEA AADSAS and DAT Scores----------------------------------------------------------- 23ADEA AADSAS Re-Applicants-------------------------------------------------------------- 23Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS)------------------- 23

APPENDICESAppendix A: Application Instructions------------------------------------------------------ 24Appendix B: Confidential Information Form Instructions------------------------------ 27Appendix C: Principal College Attended-------------------------------------------------- 30Appendix D: Dental Schools to Receive Official Scores------------------------------ 39Appendix E: Test Specifications------------------------------------------------------------ 42


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2011 American Dental AssociationAll rights reserved.

OVERVIEW

About this Guide and DAT Policies

This document is the official guide to policies for the Dental Admission Test (DAT) Program. Itprovides fundamental information about application and testing procedures as well as

examination content and scoring.

About the DAT

The DAT is conducted by the American Dental Association (ADA) and has been in operation ona national basis since 1950. The DAT is administered year round at test centers operated byPrometric Inc. (Prometric Test Centers). The testing program is designed to measure generalacademic ability, comprehension of scientific information, and perceptual ability. While alldental schools require examinees to participate in the DAT Program, test results are only onefactor considered in evaluating the admission potential of an examinee. Validity studiesconducted by the testing program have shown that test scores in conjunction with collegiaterecords are useful in predicting performance in dental school. The relative importance of thesepredictors in the admission process is determined by the dental school.

Information for Dental School Applicants

A common minimal educational requirement for admission to dental school is completion of atleast two academic years of liberal arts study; however, many dental schools in the UnitedStates require three or more years of college. Applicants should be aware that a vast majorityof the most recent first-year dental class completed four years of pre-professional education,and received a baccalaureate degree prior to dental school enrollment.

There are certain basic pre-dental education courses that must be completed prior to enrollmentin dental school. Because dental schools vary with regard to the required pre-dental educationcourses, applicants should contact the appropriate schools to determine specific admissionrequirements.

ETHICAL CONDUCT

Ethical Conduct in Applying to Dental Education Programs

This statement of ethical conduct relates to all individuals seeking admission to pre-doctoraldental education programs. The beginning of the application process is the time to understandand begin to abide by the principles set forth in this document relating to the ethical obligations

You are required to read this document before you apply to take the test. At the time ofapplication, you will be required to confirm that you have read this document and that youunderstand and agree to the policies and procedures contained in it.

Changes in the DAT Program may occur after publication of this Guide. If changes occur,they will be posted at the Web site www.ADA.org. You must become familiar with and willbe subject to the most current policies and procedures in effect at the time you test.
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of dentists.

The ADA, in collaboration with the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) hasdeveloped the ADA Code, as both organizations play important roles in the admissions process.The ADA sponsors the DAT, and the ADEA sponsors the Associated American Dental Schools

Application Service (ADEA AADSAS). The ADEA AADSAS is a centralized, pre-doctoral

application service in which the U.S. and Canadian dental schools participate.

The American Dental Association Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct states:

The dental profession holds a special position of trust within society. As aconsequence, society affords the profession certain privileges that are notavailable to members of the public-at-large. In return, the profession makes acommitment to society that its members will adhere to high ethical standards ofconduct. These standards are embodied in the ADA Principles of Ethics andCode of Professional Conduct (ADA Code). The ADA Code is, in effect, a writtenexpression of the obligations arising from the implied contract between the dentalprofession and society.

Members of the dental profession voluntarily abide by the ADA Code in the interest of protectingpatients and maintaining the trust of society as a whole. Submission of an application to adental education program is the first step in the process of becoming a member of the dentalprofession. With the application comes the obligation to uphold the highest level of honesty andethical behavior. An applicant is held to the same high standards for truth, full disclosure, andaccuracy in the application process to which a member of the dental profession is expected toaspire in their capacity as a member of the profession. Applicants to pre-doctoral dentaleducational programs are expected to understand and comply with the standards expressed inthis statement in their applications for admission to dental school and their applications to takethe DAT.

Behavior that results in misconduct or irregularity in the dental education program admissionsprocess is a very serious matter. An applicant who acts unethically risks being deniedadmission to dental education programs. Moreover, such unethical actions, if disclosed afterenrollment in a program or at the beginning of dental practice, can result in more seriousoutcomes. Violation of the DAT Rules of Conduct or the Test Regulations may result in civilliability, voiding of test results or other appropriate penalty. It is important that applicantsunderstand the significance of exhibiting professional behavior throughout their careers, startingwith the application process.

ADA and ADEA expect strong ethical behavior in all persons who are and who aspire tobecome members of the profession of dentistry. Applicants may contact both associations formore information about their policies and procedures applicable to misconduct and irregularities

in the dental school admissions process.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The ADA does not discriminate based on race/ethnicity, religion, gender, age, disability, sexualorientation, or marital status.


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Requirements for Participation

Successful participation in the DAT Program requires completion of at least one year ofcollegiate education, which should include courses in biology, and general and organicchemistry. Advanced level biology and physics are not required. Applicants should note thattest scores are developed in relation to all examinees participating in the test and that most

applicants complete two or more years of college before taking the test. Applicants to dentalschool should participate in the DAT Program well in advance of intended dental schoolenrollment. Examinees applying to Canadian dental schools should discuss the acceptance ofthe DAT by those schools prior to registering for the test.

Additional Eligibility Requirement

Examinees who have three or more testing attempts must apply for permission to retest. Atesting attempt occurs each time the examinee is seated at a computer workstation at aPrometric Test Center and starts the test by electronically agreeing to the confidentialitystatement.

Requests for additional testing must be submitted in writing to the Department of TestingServices (DTS) and must include evidence of current (within the previous 18 months) intent toapply to dental school. Acceptable forms of evidence include (you need submit only one of thefollowing):

A copy of a completed and submitted ADEA AADSAS application. A letter of rejection from a dental school. A letter on school letterhead from a dental school admissions officer encouraging you to

retest or reapply. A letter on school letterhead from a college/university health profession

advisor/instructor verifying that you are applying to dental school.

Upon approval, you will be permitted to retake the DAT once per twelve-month period.The results of the four most recent DATs taken, as well as the total number of DATs taken, arereleased on the official score reports.

Retesting

Examinees are required to submit a new application and fee for each retest. An examineemust wait at least 90 days to retake the DAT. You may submit a new application to retest andupon receipt of notification of eligibility for retesting, you may visitwww.Prometric.comor callthe Prometric Contact Center at 800.688.5804 to schedule a retest appointment at least 90days from your last attempt.

Partial Testing

Partial tests are not permitted. Examinees are required to take all four tests of the DAT. Ascore of 1(one) is reported for any assigned test not taken. Examinees unable to complete thetest must submit a new application and fee before participating in any subsequent testing.
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TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS

The DTS provides reasonable and appropriate accommodations in accordance with theAmericans with Disabilities Act for individuals with documented disabilities who demonstrate aneed for accommodation.

The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a person with a disability as an individual with aphysical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Problems such as English as a second language, test anxiety or slow reading without anidentified underlying physical or mental deficit, or failure to achieve a desired outcome aregenerally not covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Testing accommodations may be provided to an examinee with a qualified disability to offerequal access to testing.

Once approved for testing accommodations all subsequent testing for the DAT will be approvedfor testing accommodations. Examinees must request testing accommodations with each

application, but will not be required to submit additional documentation for the samedisability/condition with subsequent retest applications.

Request for Testing Accommodations and Appropriate Documentation

The following information will assist you in submitting the appropriate documentation to supportthe testing accommodation request. The documentation will assist the DTS in determiningwhether the individual qualifies for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The DTS requires a complete evaluation of the examinee as well as the completed and signedTesting Accommodation Request form. A licensed professional appropriately qualified forevaluating the disability must conduct the evaluation.

If you have a documented disability recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act andrequire testing accommodations, you must:

1. At the time you submit your DAT application and prior to scheduling a testingappointment check the box that indicates you are requesting testing accommodations.You must submit an application to test and the testing accommodation request form andthe supporting documentation. The process is not complete until you have submitted allthree components. You will schedule a testing appointment after your testingaccommodation request has been approved. Testing accommodations cannot be addedto a previously scheduled testing appointment. If you schedule a testing appointmentbefore the approval of testing accommodations, you will be required to reschedule the

appointment and pay a reschedule fee.

2. Submit the following documents [email protected]:

a. Testing Accommodation Request Form (found atwww.ADA.org) signed, and dated,describing the disability and the need for accommodations. Accommodations shouldalign with the identified functional limitation so that the adjustment to the testing
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procedure is applicable to the identified impairment. A functional limitationis definedas the behavioral manifestation of the disability that impedes the individuals ability tofunction.

b. Current evaluation report (within the past five years) from the appropriate licensedprofessional. The document (must be on official letterhead) should include the

professionals credentials, signature, address, and telephone number. The reportmust indicate the examinees name, date of birth, and date of evaluation. The reportshould include:

The specific diagnostic procedures or tests administered. Diagnosticmethods used should be appropriate to the disability and in alignment withcurrent professional protocol.

The results of the diagnostic proceduresand/or tests and acomprehensive interpretation of the results.

The specific diagnosis of the disability, with an accompanying description

of the examinees limitations due to the disability.

A summary of the complete evaluation with recommendations for thespecific accommodations and how they will reduce the impact of identifiedfunctional limitation.

c. Documentation of any previous accommodations provided by educational institutionsor other testing agencies. If no prior accommodations were provided, the licensedprofessional should include a detailed explanation as to why no accommodationswere given in the past and why accommodations are needed now.

Unacceptable Forms of Documentation

Please do not submit the following documents; the DTS will not accept them.

Handwritten letters from licensed professionals. Handwritten patient records/notes from patient chart. Diagnoses on prescription pad. Self-evaluations found on the Internet or in any print publication. Research articles. Original evaluation/diagnostic documents; submit copies of the original documents. Previous correspondence from the DTS; the DTS maintains copies of all

correspondence.

Correspondence from educational institutions or testing agencies not directlyaddressed to the DTS.


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TESTING APPLICATION AND APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Test Centers

The DAT is administered by Prometric, Inc. at Prometric Test Centers in the United States, itsterritories including Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. If your application is approved

you will receive an e-mail (or letter if no e-mail address is on file) informing you to visitwww.prometric.comor call the Prometric Contact Center at 800.688.5804 to schedule a testingappointment. The Prometric Contact Center will schedule you for testing at one of the PrometricTest Centers. However, the Prometric Contact Center will not schedule an examinee beforereceiving authorization from the DTS. A list of test centers can be found atwww.prometric.com.Individual local test centers cannot schedule, reschedule, or cancel appointments.

Testing Schedule

The following table indicates the time allocation for the DAT. You will have a total of 4 hoursand 15 minutes (or five hours including the tutorial, break, and survey) to complete the four testsin the DAT. If an examinee chooses to take the optional break, the testing session will resume

automatically after 15 minutes have elapsed. For an outline of the test content, see Appendix E:Test Specifications.

Dental Admission TestOptional Tutorial 15 minutesSurvey of Natural Sciences 90 minutesPerceptual Ability Test 60 minutes

Optional Break 15 minutesReading Comprehension Test 60 minutesQuantitative Reasoning Test 45 minutes

Optional Post Test Survey 15 minutes

The optional break after the first two tests is the only scheduled break. If you take a break atany other time, it will be considered an unscheduled break. Please review carefully the rulesrelated to unscheduled breaks.

Obtain a DENTPINand Apply to Test

Before you can apply to take the DAT or apply for admission to a dental school, you must obtaina DENTPIN.

The DENTPIN is a unique personal identifier for applicants and students involved with the U.S.dental education system and standardized testing programs. The DAT, ADEA AADSAS,TMDSAS, ADEA PASS, ADEA CAAPID, the National Board Dental Examination program, and

National Board Dental Hygiene Examination program all use the DENTPINfor identification ofstudents and test-takers and for the confidential and secure reporting, transmission and trackingof test scores and academic data. You must obtain or retrieve a DENTPIN fromhttp://ada.org/dentpin.aspxbefore proceeding with your application.

You may submit an electronic application atwww.ADA.org. A new application must besubmitted each time you wish to be tested.
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If you prefer a paper application, you may request the form by submitting a written request [email protected] by fax (312.587.4105). Paper applications must be paid by moneyorder/certified check. ADA or American Student Dental Association (ASDA) members may payby personal check, but your membership number must be recorded on the check. Applicationsare processed daily during normal business hours.

If your application and fee are approved and you meet the eligibility requirements for testing,your application will be processed. Upon completion of your application processing, the DTSwill forward your eligibility to Prometric, and you will receive instructions by e-mail (or letter if noe-mail address is on file) to visitwww.prometric.comor call the Prometric Contact Center at800.688.5804 to schedule a testing appointment. Please wait 24 hours after receipt of this e-mail before attempting to schedule a testing appointment to allow adequate time for Prometric toreceive your eligibility file.

An application may be submitted no more than six (6) months before the test date. Anyapplication that does not meet the eligibility requirements will not be processed. You will beeligible to test for a six (6) month period. If you do not schedule a testing appointment and takethe DAT during this period, you will have to resubmit an application and fee in order to take the

test later. The eligibility period will not be extended, and you will forfeit your testing fee.

All information provided on the application must be accurate. You must use your legal name.The name on your ID must match exactly your name on your DAT application. If the name onyour DAT application and your IDs do not match exactly, you will be denied admission to testingand, as a result, you will forfeit your scheduled testing appointment and your application fee.You will be required to submit a new application and fee.

Changes and corrections to your application (name, birth date, etc.) must be completed at leasttwo weeks prior to your scheduled testing appointment. You are responsible for identifying anycorrections or omissions and must notify the DTS in writing ([email protected]) or fax(312.587.4105) of any corrections or omissions. If you modify your address, e-mail address, etc.

in the DENTPIN

system, your testing application or score report request is not automaticallyupdated; please submit your request for updates [email protected] fax (312.587.4105).

Several times during the application and testing process, you will be required to provideinformation that allows the DAT Program to identify you. This includes your name, DENTPIN,address, year of birth, etc. This information must be provided accurately. If it is determinedthat you have provided a false name or deliberately provided false personal data to the DATProgram, your scores will be voided. You may also have to wait two years to retake the test, oryou may be banned from retaking the DAT.

Privacy and Security

The ADA is concerned with maintaining the privacy and security of all examinee personalinformation. The ADA takes your privacy very seriously, and it uses industry standard methodsto secure and protect your confidential information.

The DAT program collects and retains personal information for activities such as administeringthe DAT, fulfilling DAT program responsibilities, maintaining the integrity of the test, detectingand preventing unlawful activity, and fulfilling legal requirements. DAT scores are retained
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indefinitely, along with testing records and corresponding personal data. Records of yourindividual results are released and/or reported to education programs or other entities only onyour written authorization or designation by electronic means, through the online application orscore report request form. Scores will not be reported to you or others by telephone, fax, e-mailor in person.

The DAT Program may use test data for research purposes and to enhance the testingprogram. In such instances, the data are confidential and individual examinees will not beidentified. Research of this type is reviewed by an institutional review board to ensureindividuals rights are protected.

The ADA uses data security procedures to protect the integrity of personal and test information.Security safeguards include administrative, technical, and physical safeguards over data anddata processing systems. For additional information please refer to the Privacy Policyavailableonwww.ADA.org.

By registering for the test, you consent to the collection, processing, use, and transmission ofyour personal information in accordance with the statements outlined in this Guide.

Schedule a Testing Appointment

After the application is processed, the Prometric Contact Center will receive notification of youreligibility for DAT testing. Upon receipt of the completed application and fee, the DTS will sendan e-mail (or letter if no e-mail address is on file) to you with instructions to call 800.688.5804 orvisitwww.prometric.comto schedule the day, time, and Prometric Test Center to take the DAT.Please wait 24 hours after receipt of your eligibility e-mail before attempting to schedule atesting appointment to allow adequate time for Prometric to receive your eligibility file.

Confirm a Testing Appointment

You can confirm your testing appointment by contacting Prometric at 800.688.5804 orwww.prometric.com; print the confirmation page for your records. It is important that youconfirm your testing appointment no later than noon Eastern Time, two business days prior toyour appointment. If you find any discrepancies, you must call the Prometric Contact Centerimmediately. You can confirm your appointment as often as you like.

Cancel or Reschedule a Testing Appointment

Prometric requires notificationat least two business days (before noon Eastern Time) before thescheduled testing appointment to cancel or reschedule an appointmentat a Prometric TestCenter. You may cancel or reschedule your appointment by contacting Prometric at800.688.5804 orwww.prometric.com. If you no-show or cancel less than two business days

prior to the scheduled testing date, you will forfeit your scheduled testing appointment andapplication fee. Leaving a message for a local test center is not sufficient to cancel orreschedule an appointment because the test center cannot schedule, reschedule, or cancelyour appointment. Rescheduling your testing appointment will result in a rescheduling feepayable to Prometric.
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Taking the Test at a Prometric Test Center

You must report to the testing center at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. Ifyou experience problems with testing conditions, you must notify the test administratorimmediately; do not proceed with testing unless the problem is resolved. Unresolved concernsmust be submitted by fax (312-587-4105)within five business days of your testing appointment

to the DAT Program; Attention: Coordinator, Client Support Services.

Testing Fees

The DAT fee is $360. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.This fee includesofficial score reporting to your selected dental schools, an unofficial, personal copy of scoresissued at the testing center, and score reporting to the pre-dental advisor if selected on yourapplication.

All U.S. dental schools require official DAT scores for each applicant. Official scores arereported electronically to the dental schools you select on your DAT application. When youselect dental schools to receive your official scores, you grant the DTS permission to release

your official scores to the dental schools you selected on your DAT application.

Additionally, when you select dental schools on your DAT application that participate in astandardized application service (ADEA AADSAS or TMDSAS), the DTS will report your officialscores to the application services. If your DAT application has no dental schools selected, thenyou have not granted permission to the DTS to release your official scores; thus, your officialscores will not be forwarded to the standardized application services.

Schools selected at the time of application are included in the DAT fee regardless of the numberof schools selected. You can also request that a score report be sent to your pre-dental advisorat no charge at the time of application. The DTS will accept updates to the schools you selectedif you submit the update prior to your testing appointment. To update your selections, complete

the PDF Score Report Request form available atwww.ada.organd e-mail ([email protected])or fax (312.587.4105).

The fee for dental schools or other recipients not selected at the time of application is $30 perreport.

Your personal copy of the score report issued at the Prometric Test Center is an unofficialreport that is subject to audit as part of the DAT quality review process. Falsification of scorereports or misrepresentation of a score report may result in cancellation of your scores and atwo-year wait to retest.

All fees are payable only in U.S. dollars, by credit card or money order/certified check. Feesfor DAT applications and score report requests submitted electronically atwww.ADA.orgarepayable by credit card only. All cash and personal checks will be returned. Members of the

ADA or ASDA may write a personal check for submission with a paper application, but theirmembership number must be recorded on the check. Make the money order/certified checkpayable to the American Dental Association. These fees are in no way related to the ADEA

AADSAS application.
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If you cancel a credit card charge or the test fee is otherwise uncollectible, your scores will bewithheld until payment is received. A replacement payment must be made by moneyorder/certified check payable to the American Dental Association. An additional fee of $30 isrequired for uncollectible fees and must be included with the replacement payment. If you havenot resolved a debt within 60 days after a testing date, your scores from the test date will bevoided and destroyed.

Partial Fee Waiver

Partial fee waivers for the DAT are available to examinees in cases of severe financialhardship. The waiver is 50% of the DAT fee and includes the fee for the test and the officialscore reports requested at the time of application. There is the customary charge for all scorereporting after the time of application.

Fee waivers must be requested in writing by the examinee using a financial information formand paper application. You may request the forms [email protected] by calling DTS(800.232.2162). Submit the financial information form, the paper application, and youreducational institution financial aid award letter. The DTS will review all fee waiver requests

and make the final decision regarding the fee waiver. A limited number of fee waivers areavailable.

An examinee with demonstrated financial hardship is eligible for a partial fee waiver if he/she isa first time tester, a U.S. citizen or resident alien, and has received financial aid at his/hereducational institution. Fee waivers are granted on a first-come basis to eligible examineeswho have submitted their request with a completed DAT application, completed fee waiverfinancial information form, and financial aid documentation. Examinees who have previouslyreceived a fee waiver or who have already taken the DAT are not eligible for an additional feewaiver.You may not submit an electronic application if you intend to request a fee waiver.

TESTING PROCEDURES AND REGULATIONS

The DAT Program has established rules which govern the administration of the DAT to ensurethat no examinee or group of examinees receives unfair advantage on the test. TestRegulations are intended to preserve the integrity of the test process by providing standard testadministration conditions that yield valid and reliable results. Accessing test content prior totesting, breaching the confidentiality of the test content or any attempt to subvert the testprocess violates the purpose and principles of the test. Conduct occurring before, during orafter testing that violates these principles or testing Rules and Regulations may result ininvalidation of test results and/or other penalties.

Rules of Conduct

You must be truthful in completing the application and must abide by all instructions (oral orwritten) regarding the conduct of the test. Failure to comply with Test Regulations and Rules ofConduct may result in a determination of an irregularity and your test results may be withheld,cancelled, and/or considered invalid. If your scores are withheld as the result of an irregularity,you may be prohibited from testing for up to two years and you may be subject to civil orcriminal prosecution. By applying for the DAT, you agree to abide by the following Rules ofConduct:
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1. You arethe person who has registered for the test for the purpose of gaining admissionto dental school or another health profession education program and presented fortesting with valid identification. You may not take the test for someone else, nor mayyou test for any purpose other than for the purpose of gaining admission to a dental orhealth profession education program. You may not take the test to practice or to obtainan advance review of the content.

2. You will not give, receive, or obtain any form of unauthorized assistance prior to orduring the test or break periods. You will not use or share unreleased test content.

3. You willmaintain the confidentiality of the test. You will not reproduce or attempt toreproduce test materials through memorization, recording, or other means. You will notprovide information relating to test content that may provide unfair advantage to otherexaminees. By way of example, you will not make use of or participate in the electronicposting of information regarding test content or answers.

4. You willnot bring any unauthorized materials, as described in the Test Regulations, tothe test center, or into the secure testing area.

5. You willnot remove materials in any form (written/printed, recorded, or other) from thetest center.

6. You willcomply with test center policies and procedures and follow the instructions ofthe test administrator. You will not create a disturbance in the testing center.

7. You willnot tamper with the testing equipment or the testing facility.

8. You willcomply fully with any investigations of test irregularities. You also agree to haveyour test responses analyzed for detection of aberrance.

You cannot disclose (in whole or in part) any test questions or answers to anyone before, duringor after the test, whether orally, in writing, on Internet chat rooms, blogs, or otherwise. The DATis a secure test, protected by U.S. copyright laws. Any unauthorized disclosure of the testcontent could result in civil liability, criminal penalties, voiding of test results or other appropriatepenalty. You are encouraged to report any Internet or other activities that disclose informationabout test questions, so that the DTS may investigate and take necessary action. Report suchactivity to the Dental Admission Test Program [email protected] 800.232.2162.

Test Center Procedures

You must report to the test center at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time.If you report late you may not be allowed to participate in the test, depending on the time of

arrival and schedule of testing appointments. Prometric Test Center administrators willdetermine whether there is adequate time and space to administer the test. If you arrive lateand cannot be seated, you will forfeit the test fee and must submit another application and fee

.

In cases of inclement weather, natural disaster or other local conditions that may causeunavoidable interruptions to testing, Prometric will make reasonable efforts to notify you andreschedule your testing appointment.


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Prior to testing, you should review all information regarding the test including these Test CenterProcedures. You are expected to understand and comply with Test Center Regulations herein.You are encouraged to review information related to testing atwww.prometric.com,https://www.prometric.com/Services/Services/Biometrics.htm, andwww.ADA.org.

1. When you arrive at the Prometric Test Center to take the test, two original, current forms

of identification (ID), one primary and one secondary, will be requested and must bepresented. The primary ID must be a government issued ID, bearing a photograph anda signature. Examples of acceptable primary IDs (bearing a photograph and signature)are a driver's license or a passport/passport card. At least one ID must have both a

picture and a signature. Examples of secondary IDs (IDs that require only a signature)are a debit card, a library card, or credit card.Both forms of ID must be current (notexpired).

The name on your IDs must match exactly with the name on your DATapplication. If the names on your IDs and DAT application do not match exactly,you will be denied admission to testing, and you will forfeit your testingappointment and your application fee. You will be required to submit a new

application and fee to test.

Address or name changes must be submitted in writing [email protected] (312.587.4105) at least two weeks prior to your testing appointment. If youhave any questions concerning types of acceptable identification, please call theDTS at 800.232.1694 or view the FAQs atwww.ADA.org.

2. The Prometric Test Center will electronically record the identity of each examinee via afingerprint and a photograph before testing. Electronic capture of this biometric dataallows for easier and quicker return to the testing facility after breaks. The biometric andother identity data will be retained by Prometric and will be made available for identityverification at potential future test administrations related to dental education and

licensure. You may view the Prometric check-in procedure athttps://www.prometric.com/Services/Services/Biometrics.htm.

3. You will have an opportunity to become familiar with the operation of the computer bytaking a brief tutorial before beginning the actual test.

4. You will be observed at all times while you are taking the test. This observation willinclude direct observation by test center staff, as well as video recording of your testingsession. Test center staff may not necessarily inform you of their observations, but theyare required to report behavior that may violate the Rules of Conduct, the TestRegulationsor other forms of irregular behavior.

5. Test center staff is not authorized to answer questions regarding test content, testingsoftware, or scoring.

6. Cellular telephones are not allowed anywhere in the test center, and may not be used onan unscheduled break. Eating and drinking are not permitted in the secure testing area.Personal belongings are not allowed in the secure testing area.
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7. The test administrator and proctors are responsible for the operations of the facility,maintaining order and administering the test according to established procedures. Thetest center administrator is authorized to dismiss an examinee from a test session forviolating the Rules of Conduct and/or Test Regulations.

8. If you experience problems with testing conditions, you must notify the test administrator

immediately; do not proceed with testing unless the problem is resolved. Unresolvedconcerns should be reported in writing (fax 312.587.4105) within five business days ofyour testing appointment to the DAT Program; Attention: Coordinator, Client SupportServices.

Test Regulations and Prohibited Conduct

All examinees must comply with the Test Regulations, the Rules of Conduct, and the TestCenter Procedures which are intended to preserve the integrity of the testing process byproviding standard testing administration conditions that yield valid and reliable results.

1. No personal or miscellaneous items are permitted in the secure testing area. Any

personal belongings brought to the test center must be stored in a designated locker.Storage facilities are limited. Upon reasonable suspicion, your personal belongings maybe inspected. Notes or any materials accessed during testing or an unscheduled breakthat appears to contain test content may be confiscated. Accessing personal belongingsduring an unscheduled break violates Test Regulations.

2. Items that are prohibited from the secure testing area include, but are not limited to thefollowing:

a. Books, notes, study materials, scratch paper, tissues, personal ear plugs, ormarkers not provided by the testing center.

b. Slide rules, paper, calculating devices, rulers or other measuring devices (an

onscreen calculator will be provided during the Quantitative Reasoning Test).c. Electronic devices, such as cell phones, recording devices, iPods, radios/stereos

with headsets/headphones.d. Tote bags; purses, wallets, backpacks, briefcases.e. Highlighters, pens, erasers, pencils, dictionaries, and translators.f. Food, candy, gum, water or other beverages.g. Outerwear, such as coats, jackets, gloves, or head coverings (except for religious

purposes).h. Good luck charms, statues, religious or superstitious talismans.i. Medicinal items (except as approved in advance under testing accommodations).

j. Watches (digital or analog) or timing devices (a timer is provided on the computerscreen during testing).

k. Magnifying devices

3. The test center will provide note boards and low-odor fine tip markers to use during thetest. Scratch paper, pencils, or markers not provided by the testing center are notpermitted. The note board cannot be used as a measuring device and cannot be folded,bent, distorted, or mutilated in any manner. You may not remove the note boards fromthe testing station during testing. You may not use the markers on any surface other


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than the note board. You may not touch the computer monitor during testing. All itemsmust be returned to the test administrator before leaving the Prometric Test Center.

4. You should not engage in conversation with others during testing or while on break andare strictly prohibited from discussing the test at that time. Use of a telephone on anunscheduled break is prohibited.

5. Test center administrators will report the activity of examinees who take unscheduledbreaks. You may not study or refer to notes or texts while on an unscheduled break.You may not access personal belongings or prohibited items (see #2) duringunscheduled breaks and may not leave the test center during an unscheduled break.

6. Although the test is administered under strict supervision and security, test irregularitiesmay sometimes occur. Test scores may be voided or other appropriate penalty imposedbased upon a breach of test security, invalid test conditions, or violation of TestRegulations or Rules of Conduct. You are responsible for protecting the integrity of youranswers. If cheating is detected during the test, or evidence of irregular behavior isdisclosed when the tests are scored, or later, those involved will have their test scores

voided or suffer another appropriate penalty.

Failure to comply with Test Regulations and Rules of Conduct may result in a determination ofan irregularity and your test results may be withheld, cancelled, and/or considered invalid, oranother appropriate penalty may be imposed. You may also be directed to leave the test centerbefore you have completed the test. If your scores are withheld or invalidated, or you areotherwise penalized as the result of an irregularity, you may be prohibited from testing for up totwo years.

TESTING IRREGULARITIES AND MISCONDUCT

The DAT Program strives to report scores that accurately reflect the skill and performance of

each examinee. The standards and procedures for administering each test are intended to giveeach examinee a comparable opportunity to demonstrate his/her abilities, and to prevent anyexaminee from gaining an unfair advantage over others.

The DAT Program reserves the right to withhold, void, or invalidate any score, or to imposeanother appropriate penalty, when, in its judgment, there is reason to question the validity of thescore. Cause for withholding, voiding, or invalidating scores or the imposition of otherappropriate penalties, may include, but are not limited to the following:

Unusual answer patterns Atypical score increases from one test to another Inconsistent performance on different parts of the test Improper access to secure test content A test administration irregularity A discrepancy in, or falsification of, an examinees identification Information indicating that an examinee has engaged in misconduct or violation of the

rules and regulations Falsification of the examinees score report Any other information indicating the results may not be valid


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Falsification of application information or supportive documents.

When the DAT Program decides to void or invalidate test scores, it notifies examinees beforetaking that action (except in cases of testing disruptions or falsification of identity or applicationor score report information). The notice includes information about the decision and proceduresfor appeal. If scores have not yet been reported, they will be withheld until an appeal has been

resolved, or the time for appeal has expired.

When the DAT Program voids a score that has already been reported, score report recipientswill be notified that the examinees score has been voided.

If it has been determined that you have engaged in irregular behavior, information regardingthis determination becomes a part of your DAT record. At its sole discretion, the DAT Programmay elect to send a summary report documenting the incident to legitimately interested parties.This would include all parties to whom you have instructed scores be sent (both current andfuture).

The DAT Program reserves the right to pursue any other appropriate remedies, including legal

prosecution of anyone whose conduct unlawfully undermines the security of the DAT or theintegrity of the testing process.

Irregularities and Appeals

An irregularityis defined as a situation in which there may be a question about the validity oftest results with respect to whether they accurately represent the ability of an examinee.Potential reasons for failure to measure the ability of an examinee may include, but are not belimited to, communication between or among examinees or access to test content that mayhave been compromised or that has not been officially released for use as study aides orunauthorized assistance. Conduct prohibited by testing Rules and Regulations or the disruptionof test administrations (including natural disasters and other emergencies) may also be

considered irregularities. Evidence of an irregularity may be in the form of a report from a testadministrator.

When an irregularity is identified, scores of the examinee or examinees involved will be withheldor suspended pending resolution of an appeal submitted by the examinee or examineesinvolved. If the appeal is denied or no appeal if filed, the scores of the examinee or examineesinvolved will be voided or invalidated, or other appropriate remedies imposed.

If your scores are being withheld or another appropriate remedy is imposed, you will be notifiedby written correspondence. Provisions that apply when results are withheld or anotherappropriate penalty is imposed are contained in the Dental Admission Test Appeal Process.Acopy of the Dental Admission Test Appeal Process is provided to the examinee(s) whose scores

are being withheld, as well as specific information regarding the appeal process. An appealmust be submitted in writing and must include adequate documentation. An examinees appealmay include documentation that he/she believes supports his or her appeal. The appeal shouldalso indicate the specific relief requested. Appeals must be initiated within 30 days afternotification of the irregularity.

The examinee will be notified of the DAT Program's action within 60 days after receipt of the


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appeal. When considering an appeal, the DAT Program strives to ensure that all examineeshave an opportunity to demonstrate their ability and potential for success in dental school that isequal to, but not greater than, the opportunity provided to any other examinees. In any appeal,the issue to be decided is whether the appealing examinees conduct interfered with thatopportunity.

The DAT Program will void or invalidate scores only when there is a reasonable and good faithbasis to do so. If the DAT Program determines that voiding or invalidating scores is notwarranted under the circumstances, any withheld scores will be released.

Examinees should be aware that the DAT Program considers irregularities other than naturaldisasters and emergencies beyond the control of the examinee to be a serious breach of thetesting process. The DAT Program handles irregularities in a confidential manner and does notvoluntarily share details regarding irregularities. However, examinees should be aware thatreports of irregularities may have consequences beyond the withholding or voiding of scores orthe imposition of other appropriate penalties if information regarding the irregularities is broughtto the attention of school authorities, regulatory agencies or other entities by other sources.

Examinees are encouraged to report suspicious activity or observations of violations of testingregulations to the DAT Program at 800.232.2162 or [email protected].

Arbitration Requirement

Arbitration has become an increasingly common way to resolve legal differences. Theadvantages of arbitration over traditional lawsuits are that, generally, arbitration is lessexpensive and issues are resolved in less time. If an examinee wishes to pursue a dispute thathas not been resolved by the appeal process mentioned above and detailed in the DATProgram Appeal Process the examinee must use the procedure described in the following

Agreement to Arbitrate.

AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE

1) In the event that any legal dispute arises between you and the American Dental Association inconnection with your participation in the Dental Admission Test where that dispute is not resolved by theappeals process detailed in the DAT Program Guide and elsewhere, you agree that the exclusive meansfor resolving the dispute shall be Binding Arbitration as described by the terms of this Agreement. Thismeans that you waive the rights you may have to resolve the dispute in a court of law, or by any othermeans that might otherwise be available to you.

2) The American Dental Association ("ADA") agrees to be similarly bound except that the ADA reservesits full rights to pursue injunctive and other appropriate relief in any state or federal court in cases of unfaircompetition or violations of, or threats to violate, any intellectual property rights of the ADA. With respectto any action filed by the ADA pursuant to this paragraph 2, you consent to submit to the jurisdiction of the

state or federal court in which the ADA seeks relief.

3) Arbitration proceedings initiated pursuant to this Agreement to Arbitrate shall be conducted inaccordance with the then current rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Arbitration and anyproceedings relating to it shall be held in Chicago, Illinois. The arbitrator's award shall be binding andmay be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction. Information about the AmericanArbitration Association, its rules, and its forms are available from the American Arbitration Association,335 Madison Avenue, Floor 10, New York, New York, 10017-4605.


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4) In the event of Arbitration, the parties shall bear their own costs and attorneys' fees associated with theArbitration proceedings, unless the arbitrator directs one of the parties to pay the other's costs, orattorneys' fees, or both.

5) To the fullest extent permitted by law, no Arbitration brought pursuant to this Agreement shall be joinedto any Arbitration involving any other party whether through "Class Arbitration" proceedings or otherwise.

6) This Agreement is part of the Application to take the Dental Admission Test. Your assent to be boundby it is a requirement for taking the test, but you can only sit for the test if you also fulfill all otherconditions imposed by the American Dental Association.

TEST CONTENT

Scope of the Test

The test is comprised exclusively of multiple-choice test items presented in the Englishlanguage. Each edition of a test is developed according to the Test Specifications (AppendixE). The DAT consists of a battery of four tests: Survey of the Natural Sciences, Perceptual

Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning.

Test Preparation Materials

The DAT preparation materials contain samples of the four tests used in the DAT and areavailable atwww.ADA.org. These materials are available at no charge to examinees as ameans of discovering possible areas of weakness in their comprehension of subjects coveredon the test. They also enable examinees to become familiar with the types of materials includedin the test, as well as the general format of the various parts of the test battery.

The DAT program also offers a complete online and paper DAT Practice Test to help youprepare. The questions on this practice test previously appeared on the actual test (2009

edition), but have been retired from the main testing program. The online DAT Practice Test istimed and reflects the actual DAT testing time (4 hours and 30 minutes). Upon completing theonline practice test you will receive a report indicating the number of questions that youanswered correctly. To purchase either the online or paper DAT Practice Test visithttp://ada.org/dat.aspx.

The DAT Program does not endorse any test preparation courses and has no data on thecontent or efficacy of test preparation courses designed to prepare you to take the DAT. TheDTS urges individuals considering participating in test preparation courses to review carefullythe course materials to ensure that they reflect the current content of the DAT.

A tutorial to familiarize you with the mechanics of taking the DAT is available atwww.ADA.org.

The tutorial includes a couple of sample DAT items, and provides the opportunity to becomefamiliar with the basic steps involved in proceeding through the test. At the Prometric TestCenter, you will also have an opportunity to become familiar with the workings of the computerby taking a brief optional tutorial before beginning the actual test.

Additionally, you may become familiar with the computer testing experience throughPrometric's Test Drive. In 30 minutes, you will experience an overview of the testing
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experience you will encounter on the actual testing day. During the overview, you mayparticipate in:

The scheduling and registration process The complete check-in process Introduction to test center staff and surroundings A live 15-minute sample test (generic test not a sample DAT) demonstrating the testing

process Full preparation for the real test

Visithttp://www.prometric.com/TestDrive/default.htm for further details and pricing.There are no shortcuts to the process of learning, and these test preparation materials are notdesigned to provide you with an opportunity to bypass the extensive process of absorbingbasic information through class participation and months of study.

Unreleased Test Materials

Unreleased test materials comprise confidential test material. Obtaining, using, and/or

distributing unreleased test items is strictly prohibited regardless of the method employed, i.e.,whether by memorization, recording, copying, etc. Use or sharing of unreleased test materialsviolates the Rules of Conduct and Testing Regulations. Such activities may provide unfairadvantage to individuals or groups of individuals and threaten the validity and credibility of thetest. Since all tests are copyrighted property of the American Dental Association, theseprohibited activities also violate Federal copyright laws. The American Dental Associationinvestigates reports or allegations associated with the generation, use or sharing of unreleasedtest materials, and will pursue formal action against anyone who violates Test Regulations orFederal Copyright Law.

SCORE INFORMATION

Scoring of Test

DAT scores are based on the number of correct responses; therefore, examinees are notpenalized for guessing.

DAT results are reported in terms of scale scores. The scale scores are neither raw scores(number correct) nor percentiles. Using scale scores it is possible to more readily comparethe performance of one examinee with the performance of all examinees. Scores used in thetesting program range from 1 to 30. There are no passing or failing scores; a scale score of17 typically signifies average performance on a national basis.

Each test includes certain questions that play a special role within the testing program. Some

questions enable us to place different forms of the test on a common measurement scale,thereby adjusting the forms for any differences in form difficulty level. Because of thesequestions, examinee scores have the same meaning regardless of the particular test formthat was administered. Other questions on the test are experimental and are not scored.The data collected on unscored questions is used in later test construction processes, toensure that these questions are appropriate before they are included among the scoreditems.
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Test Validity and Score Reliability

Two characteristics allow users to evaluate the quality of a test. These are reliability andvalidity. Reliability refers to the degree to which test scores are consistent acrossadministrations of the test. If test scores are reliable, then they are dependable and repeatablefor an individual examinee. The findings of annual studies clearly indicate that DAT scores are

highly reliable.

Validity refers to the extent to which the test measures what it purports to measure. For theDAT, one approach to evaluating the validity is to correlate scores to grades in schools andcolleges of dentistry. Validity studies containing correlations between test scores and dentalgrades are conducted regularly and have indicated predictive validity relative to performance indental school programs. These reports are available in the DAT Users Manual atwww.ADA.org.

A number of procedures are used to insure that tests are fair to all examinees regardless ofrace, ethnicity, gender, or regional background. The test construction process involves a reviewof questions to insure that they are not differentially familiar to any groups of individuals.

Further, as part of the test analysis process, test question data are analyzed for fairness. Anyquestions that may appear differentially familiar are evaluated and, if appropriate, modified.

Score Reports

Immediately upon completing the DAT you will receive an unofficial score report at thePrometric Test Center. In the unofficial score report, scale scores and correspondingpercentiles are reported. The percentile corresponding to your score tells you how well youperformed in relation to other examinees. For example, a score in the 75th percentile is a scorethat is equal to or better than the score of 75 percent of all DAT examinees. This unofficialreport is audited for accuracy before official reporting of scores. This report is your personalcopy. No other score report will be sent to you. Official scores will be available approximately

three to four weeks after your testing appointment. It is the policy of the DAT Program that oncean examinee has taken any part of the test battery; those scores cannot be voided at therequest of the examinee.

This unofficial report is audited for accuracy before official reporting of scores. This report isyour personal copy. No other score report will be sent to you. Official scores will be availableapproximately three to four weeks after your testing appointment. It is the policy of the DATProgram that once an examinee has taken any part of the test battery; those scores cannot bevoided at the request of the examinee.

All U.S. dental schools require official DAT scores. Official scores are reported electronically tothe dental schools you select on your DAT application. When you select dental schools to

receive your official scores, you grant the DTS permission to release your official scores to thedental schools you selected on your DAT application. Scores will not be released withoutspecific authorization for each individual dental school.

The results of the four most recent attempts are released on the official score report. It issuggested that you confer with the pre-dental advisor regarding test results. You can requestthat a score report be sent to your pre-dental advisor at no charge at the time of application.
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Scores will be transmitted to the pre-dental advisor (in periodic reports) if indicated on yourapplication.

Additionally, when you select dental schools on your DAT application that participate in astandardized application service (ADEA AADSAS or TMDSAS), the DTS will report your officialscores to the schools and to the application services. If your DAT application has no dental

schools selected, then you have not granted permission to the DTS to release your officialscores and your official scores will not be forwarded to the schools or to the standardizedapplication services.

Schools selected at the time of application are included in the DAT fee regardless of the numberof schools selected. The DTS will accept updates to the schools you selected if you submit theupdate priorto your testing appointment. To update your selections, complete the PDF ScoreReport Request form available atwww.ada.organd e-mail ([email protected]) or fax(312.587.4105).

Requests for additional score reports must be submitted using the score report request formavailable atwww.ADA.org. The fee for dental schools or other recipients not selected at the

time of application to test is $30 per report/school. Additional score report requests forpersonal copies will be fulfilled as unofficial score reports.

Processing of additional requests requires approximately three weeks. Score report fees arenon-refundable and non-transferable.

It is suggested to have official scores sent to each of the dental schools to which you areconsidering application even though you have not yet completed filing admission applications tothese schools. Requests for official scores after the scores are reported are subject to delay andadditional expense.

How will I know if my DAT scores have been imported into ADEA AADSAS?

Your DAT scores will be imported into your ADEA AADSAS application if:

You indicated when you completed the DAT application that you wanted your DATscores sent to an ADEA AADSAS participating dental school.

You have entered your DENTPIN and date of birth in your ADEA AADSAS application.

Check to see if your DAT scores have been downloaded to your ADEA AADSAS application by:

Logging into your ADEA AADSAS application.

In the My Application Status section, click on Official DAT Scores.

Next to DAT, there will be a date that your scores were imported into your ADEAAADSAS application.
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It may take 3-4 weeks from the date that you take your DAT for your scores to be reported toand verified by the DTS, and for your scores to be transmitted to ADEA AADSAS. ADEA

AADSAS receives updated DAT scores on a weekly basis, imports them into your application,and transmits them to schools within one week of receipt.

Why have my DAT scores not been reported in my ADEA AADSAS application?

When you completed the DAT application, did you select one or more dentalschools among the ADEA AADSAS participating dental schools? If, when youcompleted the DAT application, you did not select any dental school(s) to receive yourofficial DAT scores, you must visitwww.ADA.org, and request a score report be sent tothe ADEA AADSAS-participating dental school(s). Your scores will then be sent to

ADEA AADSAS and imported into your application. A fee will apply for reports notrequested at the time of application.

Did you record your DENTPINcorrectly in your ADEA AADSAS application? TheDENTPIN you used in your DAT application must match the DENTPIN you reported inyour ADEA AADSAS application. If your DENTPIN is not reported correctly, you must

log-in to your ADEA AADSAS application, go to the Account Information section, enterthe correct DENTPIN, and click Save.

Did you record your name correctly in your ADEA AADSAS application? Thename you used in your DAT application must match the name you reported in your

ADEA AADSAS application. If your name is not reported correctly, you must log-in toyour ADEA AADSAS application, go to the Account Information section, enter thecorrect name, and click Save.

Did you record your date of birth correctly in your ADEA AADSAS application?ADEA AADSAS matches your DENTPIN and date of birth to import your DAT scores.Be sure that your date of birth is entered correctly in the Biographical Information

section of your application.

Note: It may take up to two business days to download your scores from the time you updateyour DENTPIN and/or date of birth information in your ADEA AADSAS application.

Score Audits

Before official DAT scores are reported, the DTS conducts a quality review of all results in orderto confirm the accuracy of the scores. The DTS also reviews test center reports regardingirregularities and violations of Test Regulations. For a period of 30 days after your testingappointment, the DAT Program is willing to audit your DAT results. The fee for an audit is $65payable to the American Dental Association by a money order/certified check. The audit

request form is available atwww.ADA.org.
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Dental School Admission: American Student Dental Association (ASDA) Resources

The American Student Dental Association (ASDA), a student-run organization since 1971, isdedicated to meeting the informational needs of dental students and prospective dental

students. As someone interested in a career in dentistry, you are eligible for ASDAs pre-dentalmembership. ASDA pre-dental membership includes several publications and multiple memberbenefits. Please call 800.621.8099 (x 2795) or visitwww.asdanet.orgfor further information.

ADEA AADSAS: Centralized Application to Most U.S. Dental Schools

The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) and the American Dental Association(ADA) are separate organizations. All inquiries concerning ADEA AADSAS, the centralizedapplication service, should be directed to ADEA.

ADEA AADSAS simplifies the dental school application service for students by providing onestandardized form, relieving applicants of the need to complete multiple applications. Dental

schools benefit by receiving uniform information on all applicants. ADEA AADSAS serves as aclearinghouse only, and does not influence any schools appraisal or selection of applicants.

Admission to dental school is competitive; in order to select those schools where yourapplication will have the greatest chance of success, you should review theADEA Official Guideto Dental Schools, which can be ordered from the ADEA website (www.adea.org). Thispublication contains useful information concerning specific dental school prerequisites, financialassistance/cost of dental education, ADEA AADSAS, and other areas of interest to prospectivedental students.

American Dental Education Association1400 K Street NW, Suite 1100, Washington, D.C.202-289-7201 orwww.adea.org

How to Apply to ADEA AADSAS

The ADEA AADSAS application cycle is June 1 to February 1. To initiate an application, go tothe ADEA website (www.adea.org) and select the ADEA AADSAS option (or go directly to theapplication site (http://portal.aadsasweb.org).

You can apply to as many dental schools as you wish through ADEA AADSAS. Official DATscores are reported in your ADEA AADSAS application (if you indicated that you wanted yourscores shared with any ADEA AADSAS-participating dental schools), along with grade pointaverages, a summary of your academic information and other background information. Eachparticipating dental school may have its own separate supplemental application fee and/or

supplemental application. Check the Designations section of the ADEA AADSAS application foradditional supplemental information required by schools.

Applicants can monitor the status of application processing inside their online ADEA AADSASapplications.
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ADEA AADSAS Processing Fee

The ADEA AADSAS processing fees can be found in the application. Fees cover the cost ofprocessing your materials and preparing statistical analyses, which assist both dental educatorsand pre-dental advisors.

ADEA AADSAS and DAT Scores

When applyingfor the DAT, you must grant permission to the DTS to release your officialscores to each dental school you wish to receive your official scores. You can select as manydental schools as you wish, if you do so when you submit your application.

After you test, ADEA AADSAS will retrieve your scores and will distribute them to the AADSASparticipating schools designated in the ADEA AADSAS application. ADEA AADSAS is not ableto retrieve official DAT scores if you did not select any ADEA AADSAS participating dentalschools on your DAT application.

ADEA AADSAS incorporates official DAT scores (including previous scores) into the ADEAAADSAS application, and reports to the AADSAS participating dental schools designated in theADEA AADSAS application. DAT scores received after the ADEA AADSAS application hasbeen sent to dental schools will be added to the ADEA AADSAS application and a revisedapplication will be distributed both electronically and in print to the designated dental schools.

ADEA AADSASRe-Applicants

ADEA AADSAS has implemented a new process that allows re-applicants to import certaininformation, including DAT scores, from one application cycle into the next application cycle. Are-applicant is any applicant that applied to dental school through the previous ADEA AADSASapplication cycle. In addition, a re-applicants previous application materials must have been

completed and mailed to dental schools to utilize this feature.

Applicants will need their log-in information from the previous ADEA AADSAS cycle. Re-applicants that wish to utilize this feature should click on the "Re-Applying to ADEAAADSAS" link on the ADEA AADSAS application home screen and follow the instructions.

Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS)

Texas Residents must apply through the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service(TMDSAS). To access the full information and the on-line application, please visit their Website:http://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas. Contact them at: 702 Colorado Street, Suite 6.400,

Austin, Texas 78701 Phone: 512.499.4785 Fax: 512.499.4786 Email:[email protected].

The TMDSAS also requires that you obtain a DENTPIN

prior to applying.
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APPENDIX AAPPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

The following information may be useful when completing the electronic or paper application.For questions regarding the application process, please contact the DTS at 800.232.2162.

The electronic application is available atwww.ADA.org. To complete the computer readScantron paper application, use a dark (No. 2) pencil, do not use ink. Enter one number, letter,slash, or dash per box. Leave a blank box or space when appropriate; blanks have no circles tofill in. After filling in the boxes, blacken the matching circles under the boxes. Correct any errorsby completely erasing the errors and/or any stray marks. The information that you provide onthe application will be used exactly as provided for all data processing and mailing functions. Toavoid errors, please complete the entire application and proofread carefully.

Name

Enter your name in the boxes provided, last name, first name and middle name. Inaddition to letters, dashes and blank spaces can be used if appropriate. If your name

has more letters than there is space provided, enter only as many letters as there arespace provided. Submit a name change request in writing ([email protected]) or fax(312.587.4105).

DENTPIN

As part of the application process, all candidates must provide their Dental PersonalIdentifier Number (DENTPIN). The DENTPIN (DENTal Personal IdentifierNumber) isa unique personal identifier for applicants and students involved with the U.S. dentaleducation system and standardized testing programs. The DAT, ADEA AADSAS andTMDSAS, plus ADEA PASS, ADEA CAAPID and the National Board Dental and DentalHygiene Examination programs all use the DENTPIN for identification of students and

test-takers and for the confidential, secure reporting, transmission and tracking of testscores and academic data. To avoid delays in processing your applications and scorerequests, please be sure that the information you provide to these programs isaccurate and identical (legal name, date of birth, and DENTPIN). If you modify youraddress, e-mail address, etc. in the DENTPIN system, your testing application or scorereport request is not automatically updated; please submit your request for updates [email protected] fax (312.587.4105).

You should obtain or retrieve a DENTPIN fromhttp://ada.org/dentpin.aspxbeforeproceeding with your application.

Date of Birth

Enter your date of birth.

Daytime Phone

Enter your daytime phone number.
http://www.ada.org/http://www.ada.org/http://www.ada.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://ada.org/dentpin.aspxhttp://ada.org/dentpin.aspxhttp://ada.org/dentpin.aspxhttp://ada.org/dentpin.aspxmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.ada.org/


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Principal College Attended

Enter the name of the principal college you attended. (Appendix C). If the institution (orthe campus/branch of a large college/university system) you attended is not listed, enterits complete name and the city and state in which it is located.

Testing Accommodations

If you are requesting testing accommodations because of a documented disability,please submit a testing accommodation request form (found atwww.ADA.org) with thesupporting documents. Applications for testing accommodations because of adocumented disability are not processed without the necessary application anddocuments.

Dental Schools to Receive Official Scores

From the list of dental schools (see Appendix D), indicate which schools are to receiveofficial DAT scores.

All U.S. dental schools require official DAT scores for each examinee. Official scoresare reported electronically to the dental schools you select on your DAT application.When you select dental schools to receive your official scores, you grant the DTSpermission to release your official scores to the dental schools you selected on yourDAT application.

Additionally, when you select dental schools on your DAT application that participate in astandardized application service (ADEA AADSAS or TMDSAS), the DTS will report yourofficial scores to the application services. If your DAT application has no dental schoolsselected, then you have not granted permission to the DTS to release your officialscores and your official scores will not be forwarded to the standardized application

services.

Schools selected at the time of application are included in the DAT fee regardless of thenumber of schools selected. You can also request that a score report be sent to yourpre-dental advisor at no charge at the time of application. The DTS will accept updatesto the schools you selected if you submit the update prior to your testing appointment.To update your selections, complete the PDF Score Report Request form available atwww.ada.organd e-mail ([email protected]) or fax (312.587.4105).

Street Address

Enter the address to which correspondence should be mailed. If you have an apartment

number, please include it. Enter the city. If your mailing address is in the United Statesor Canada, enter the appropriate two letter U.S. state, U.S. territory, or Canadianprovince abbreviation. Enter your U.S. zip code or Canadian postal code. Othercountries leave this blank. Indicate the appropriate country. If other, enter the name ofthe country in the space provided. Also, for other countries, provide any other mailinginformation that may be necessary. Enter your e-mail address.
http://www.ada.org/http://www.ada.org/http://www.ada.org/http://www.ada.org/http://www.ada.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.ada.org/http://www.ada.org/


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Testing History

Indicate whether you have taken the DAT before.

Pre-health Advisor

Indicate whether you want official DAT scores sent to your pre-health advisor foradvising purposes at no additional charge.

Recruitment Availability

Indicate whether you want your name made available to dental schools for recruitmentpurposes.

Minority Recruitment

Indicate whether you want to be considered a minority applicant for recruitmentpurposes. If so, your name and address will be made available to dental schools.

Military Recruitment

Indicate whether you would like to be contacted regarding U.S. military scholarships.

Fee

The DAT testing fee is $360.

Send money order/certified check for the total amount with your paper application,Confidential Information Form and any required documentation. The moneyorder/certified check should be made payable to the American Dental Association.

Members of the ADA or ASDA may write a personal check, but your membershipnumber must be recorded on the check.

Signature

Read the statement at the end of your application; sign your name and date (electronicapplication will request you check the boxes). Do not print your name. Your signature isrequired. By signing the application, you confirm that: 1) the information provided is trueand accurate; 2) you have read the Test Regulations and agree to abide by them; 3) youagree to resolve any legal differences by arbitration; and 4) you give permission forrelease of your scores to the schools requested and to the relevant application service.


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APPENDIX BCONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION FORM INSTRUCTIONS

A Confidential Information Form should be submitted along with the DAT application. Althoughtest applicants provide a minimum of biographical information on the test application form, theConfidential Information Form is a more comprehensive information form. The requested

information includes your class standing, gender, ethnic identification, financial status, majorfield of study, etc. This information will be kept confidential and used to report nationaltrends related to the testing program. You will not be penalized for leaving some questionsunanswered. Please review your entries to see that they are complete and accurate.

Name

Enter your last name, first name, and middle name. Your name should match the nameon your application.

DENTPIN

Enter your DENTPIN. This number should be the same as on your application.

Gender

Enter your gender.

Ethnic Identification (Optional)

Please, answer the following questions:

a. Do you consider yourself to be of Hispanic origin? Yes or No

b. Which of the following best describe your race? You may mark one or more races. American Indian or Alaska Native Asian Black or African American Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander White

Size of City

Please select the most appropriate description of the size of the city or town, which wasyour principal residence during high school.

High School Rank

Select the appropriate percentile group for y

DAT Examine Guide

Documents

Transcript of DAT Examine Guide